(8372) Demiurge: ---------------------------------------------
(8372) Demiurge: Who wants to die first?
(8370) Imhotep: I can...
** (8370) Imhotep relaxes in his estate house, surrounded by family and servants. His body has been weakening over the years, much more so recently. **
** (8370) Imhotep reflects on the growing sense of weight in his limbs, and contemplates meeting with Osiris at long last. **
(8370) Imhotep: (Sort of the quiet peaceful death.)
(8374) Sarpedon: (Heh.)
(8372) Demiurge: Nice one. One the other end of the peaceful death scale, let's look at Sarpedon!
Server Administrator-> Ping Results: 19.9 ms (parsed message, round trip)
** (8374) Sarpedon faces his enemies, the hated Greek invaders, on the shores of Ilium. He battles ceaselessly, calling upon the aid of his father for skill and luck in battle, but the gods conspire against him. They favor Patroclus, foolish lackey of Achilles (a coward who would not face battle that day). Instead, the aged Lycean king faces off against Patroclus, hurling his spear at his foe. Apollo fouls his aim and spares the Greek, but Patroclus' spear instead finds a chink in Sarpedon's armor. He falls, knowing that the gods betrayed him in their petty squabbles. **
(8372) Demiurge: Nice!
(8370) Imhotep: (Painful death.)
(8372) Demiurge: Now... Imhotep...
(8372) Demiurge: After your fade into death, a period of timelessness passes.
(8372) Demiurge: You awake. You feel young and strong, but strange. You are weightless, floating in midair.
** (8370) Imhotep looks at his hands, then around, trying to orient himself. **
(8372) Demiurge: Looking around you seem to be floating in the middle of a large space. There are other sleeping bodies floating around you. They seemed to be perfectly stacked.
(8372) Demiurge: Imagine this...
(8372) Demiurge: Floating bars running parallel to your body. giving an energy that holds you gently in position. There is a man floating next to you, naked and hairless.
** (8370) Imhotep pokes the man on the shoulder. **
(8372) Demiurge: The bodies seem to go on forever, up and down, left and right. A perfectly symmetrical sea.
(8372) Demiurge: You feel a pressure. YOu can't reach him.As you gett closer to the bar separating you it gives back pressure.
(8372) Demiurge: You are all rotating, like turkeys on spits. You can't tell up from down.
** (8370) Imhotep studies the bars, curious. **
(8372) Demiurge: In the distance you see a body that seems like it isn't formed. You see muscle and bone. It is also rotating like the others.
** (8370) Imhotep ponders the oven of Osiris. **
(8372) Demiurge: You see a strange movement. A metal device floats down. the bars near you separate and you see a man sitting on the device. He looks at you.
(8372) Demiurge: He speaks. He sounds like he is repeating memorized lines, and doesn't actually know Egyptian...
(8372) Demiurge: "You have been awoken early. I have a message."
(8370) Imhotep: "What is your message?"
(8372) Demiurge: "When you awaken next, it will be on another world. Know this. It is not of the gods. It was made by the hands of man. That is all." He aims a rod at you and you fall asleep.
(8372) Demiurge: That was the prologue!
(8372) Demiurge: Chapter One... The Day of the Great Shout.
** (8374) Sarpedon does not imagine this to be the Elysian Fields. He still has to cross the Styx into the underworld. **
(8372) Demiurge: You awaken, slowly. Both of you. Imhotep, you recognize the hairless man next to you from the chamber.
(8372) Demiurge: He was the man sleeping next to you.
(8372) Demiurge: You are both young and strong, naked and hairless.
(8372) Demiurge: You notice lots and lots of people, slowly and groggily waking up.
(8370) Imhotep: (Hairless is not so new to Imhotep.)
** (8374) Sarpedon reaches for the wound in his chest, clutching the spot where the spear projected. **
(8372) Demiurge: You both have a metal canister strapped to your wrist by some clear flexible material. It's about 2 feet long and a foot wide, but almost feather-light.
(8372) Demiurge: People are starting to look around, with growing fear.
** (8370) Imhotep studies the canister carefully. **
** (8374) Sarpedon tries to pull the shackle off. **
(8372) Demiurge: Somewhere a woman starts screaming, and that scream opens the flood-gates.
(8372) Demiurge: The strap is not on tight. It slips off easily. It's more for convenience than anything.
(8372) Demiurge: All of a sudden you are surrounded by hundreds, possibly thousands of panicked screaming people. :)
(8374) Sarpedon: "Silence, you idiots!" The Lycean examines the bracelet, seeing if it is jewelry or some kind of decorative piece.
** (8370) Imhotep watches the panicked crowd with the impassion of nobility. **
(8372) Demiurge: Both of you make a Fear Check at -5. (Actually, -3 for Imhotep, since he had a little warning.)
(8374) Sarpedon: (What's the fear roll? Which stat?)
(8372) Demiurge: Basically it's a Will roll, which is IQ plus any modifiers.
(8372) Demiurge: +2 for Combat Reflexes.
(8374) Sarpedon: (How many dice?)
(8370) Imhotep: [3d6] -> [5,1,3] = (9) vs. 12
(8372) Demiurge: All rolls in GURPS are 3d6. You roll and try to get under your number.
(8370) Imhotep: (Err, 12-3, which is 9.)
(8372) Demiurge: Your IQ is 12? Even with the -3 modifier, Imhotep stays calm.
(8374) Sarpedon: [3d6] -> [3,2,4] = (9) IQ is 11.
(8372) Demiurge: You missed, but not much. You are stunned for 1 round, then recover automatically.
** (8374) Sarpedon reels from the wave of panic infecting the mob, then recovers. **
** (8370) Imhotep looks at his surroundings, then at the strange thing on his wrist. **
(8372) Demiurge: You can't understand most of the people. Imhotep is lucky, in that about 30% of them seem to be from his rough time and place, and he can speak with them.
(8374) Sarpedon: "Curse you, Patroclus!"
(8372) Demiurge: You are all on the banks of a river. The river is large. It appears to be more than a mile across, and had an island out in the middle.
** (8374) Sarpedon berates unseen enemies in Greek. **
(8374) Sarpedon: (Had or has?)
(8372) Demiurge: Has. Typo.
** (8370) Imhotep yells in Egyptian, "Be Silent! You will not summon Osiris with such noise!" **
(8372) Demiurge: You see a man and a woman, egyptian, see each other and shout with joy. They hug each other. They appear to be husband and wife.
(8372) Demiurge: There are also some children around. One of them seems to be about 7. A pale little girl speaking a language you have never heard.
(8370) Imhotep: "You who can hear, come and calm yourselves. Answer the call of Imhotep."
(8372) Demiurge: It appears to be dawn or dusk. The sun is behind a moutain range.
(8372) Demiurge: You notice that you are in a river valley. The valley seems to spread to mountains that are unnaturally sheer and tall. about 20,000 feet.
** (8370) Imhotep looks over all the people he can see, for some sign that one of them might be Osiris. **
(8372) Demiurge: People are still running around yelling and screaming. Some are crying, or praying.
(8372) Demiurge: the little girl seems very scared.
(8370) Imhotep: "Who is mother to this child? Can she not be calmed?"
** (8374) Sarpedon crouches and holds out his hand to the little girl. **
(8372) Demiurge: Imhotep make a perception roll. basically IQ plus any modifers.
(8370) Imhotep: [3d6] -> [6,3,1] = (10) vs 12
(8372) Demiurge: Yep. You notice Sarpedon, yelling at unseen enemies. He is notable since he is speaking greek.
(8372) Demiurge: The little girl takes your hand, and plaintively asks you something. You can't understand a word.
** (8370) Imhotep tries his Greek. "You there, you are this one's father?" **
(8372) Demiurge: (Not likely, she's not speaking greek. but it's understandable. You are frazzled.)
Server Administrator-> Ping Results: 19.9 ms (parsed message, round trip)
** (8374) Sarpedon pats the child on the head reassuringly since he cannot understand her language. **
(8372) Demiurge: She is scared, but more afraid of being alone. And you too seem friendly.
** (8374) Sarpedon had children of his own once. He understands the fears of children. **
(8372) Demiurge: Sarpedon, you notice that Imhotep is the only one hear who can speak greek. He has an odd accent, and doesn't look greek, though.
(8372) Demiurge: It's odd patting a child on a bald head. :p
(8374) Sarpedon: "Who are you? You speak my tongue, but you are not a (spit) Greek."
(8370) Imhotep: "I am not Greek, I am from Egypt."
(8370) Imhotep: "I am Imhotep, Chief Architect to Pharoah Djosser."
(8374) Sarpedon: "I know of this place and its people. I am Sarpedon, king of Lycea. Is this your child?"
(8372) Demiurge: The little girl is hovering nervously, crying softly, holding her canister to her like a security blanket.
(8370) Imhotep: "This is not my child, she does not speak my language."
(8374) Sarpedon: "Is this the River Styx? Where is the boatman of the Underworld? Surely we must be dead, for I fell with a spear through my heart, and none survive that."
(8372) Demiurge: The people seem to be forming into groups. You later realize that there is an odd demographic. 60% from one time and place you don't know, 30% ancient egypt, and 10% random scatter.
(8370) Imhotep: "I also was dead. But I was awakened strangely, as if from a long sleep. One was there who said I would awake again in a place made by man. This must be some further test by Osiris to join him in the underworld."
(8374) Sarpedon: "I have heard of your gods. I feel this is some trick by Apollo The Fates surely did not decree this for a son of Zeus."
(8372) Demiurge: You reflect on the "made by man" part. The mountains look oddly flat and artifical. There is also a strange structure near the riverbank.
(8370) Imhotep: "Have you the secret of this?" he holds up the canister.
(8372) Demiurge: You see many women running around desperately trying to cover their nudity. In less frightening times, it would be almost comical.
(8374) Sarpedon: "It is not a cuff or shackle. I do not think it is jewelry. Small token for the dead, perhaps? Hah!"
(8370) Imhotep: "Let us see what that odd structure is by the river."
(8374) Sarpedon: "Women, show some sense! We are all naked here."
(8372) Demiurge: A man approaches you. He seems to be working up the nerve, as everyone seems to be strangers.
(8374) Sarpedon: "Agreed. Come little one. Perhaps it holds an answer, or at least something of use."
(8370) Imhotep: (Egyptian?)
** (8374) Sarpedon stops, waiting for the newcomer. **
(8372) Demiurge: At least, he kind of looks like a man. He almost looks like a beast. Short and broad, with a breadloaf shaped head and large tombstone like teeth.
(8372) Demiurge: He pats his own chest and says, as an introduction, "Kazzintruitruabemess"
** (8374) Sarpedon pushes the child behind him. "What do you want, creature?" **
(8370) Imhotep: "What manner of speech is this?"
(8372) Demiurge: He looks scared, but almost pathetically eager to be accepted by a group.
(8372) Demiurge: He points to himself and repeats "Kazzintruitruabemess" He considers then amends, "Kazz"
** (8370) Imhotep points at his chest and says, "Imhotep." **
(8374) Sarpedon: "Sarpedon." The Lycean places his fist over his heart.
(8374) Sarpedon: "Sarr--peh--donn."
(8372) Demiurge: The little girl, seeing what's happening says, "Gwenefra"
** (8374) Sarpedon pats the child and repeats her name. "Gwenefra." **
(8372) Demiurge: Some other people seem to be noticing the structure. It appears to be an odd mushroom shaped table. Waist-high with a flat top.
** (8370) Imhotep begins walking towards the structure. "Come." **
(8372) Demiurge: Very wide.
** (8370) Imhotep inspects it carefully. **
(8372) Demiurge: As you get closer, you realize that there are hundreds of indentations at the top. Sitting in one of the indents near the middle is a canister like the one on your wrist.
(8374) Sarpedon: "Gwenefra, follow." Sarpedon takes her hand. "Kazz, follow." He jerks his head at the squat man-thing. "Imhotep, are you coming?"
(8372) Demiurge: One of the people has opened is own canister and is looking inside.
** (8370) Imhotep inspects his canister, looking for a way to open it. **
(8372) Demiurge: You notice other mushroom structures in the distance along the bank. They are space about a mile apart.
(8372) Demiurge: The top opens easily, There are six metal slots/cups inside. You don't see what they are for immediately.
(8372) Demiurge: Everyone seems to have one.
(8374) Sarpedon: "What is this thing? Surely not a weapon."
** (8370) Imhotep inspects the canister on the mushroom. **
(8372) Demiurge: It's just sitting there.
(8370) Imhotep: (Anything in it?)
(8372) Demiurge: Just six metal cups. They are fairly large.
(8374) Sarpedon: "No wine. What's the use of cups without wine?"
(8372) Demiurge: You see trees, hills and woods toward the mountains. But before that there seems to be about a mile of plains.
** (8370) Imhotep looks at the river, and at the land nearest the water. **
(8370) Imhotep: (Does the grass grow right to the water's edge, and is there any grass under the water?)
(8372) Demiurge: The grass grows to the water's edge. It doesn't extend far into the water.
(8372) Demiurge: I just put a map. The black dots are the weird mushroom structures.
(8370) Imhotep: (Is there mud higher up on the bank?)
(8372) Demiurge: Each hex is one third of a mile.
(8372) Demiurge: No, no real mud.
** (8374) Sarpedon places his cannister on the table in one of the divots. "Zeus, hear my plea. Take this offering and free us from this place." **
(8372) Demiurge: The grass extends to the bank. There seems to be no erosion.
(8370) Imhotep: "The water is rising."
(8372) Demiurge: The sky is odd.
(8370) Imhotep: "It is the season of Achet, then. We must find some grain to plant when the water begins to recede."
(8372) Demiurge: The stars are brighter and more numerous. You can see some of them even with the sun behind the mountains.
(8372) Demiurge: The few constellations that are fading from view are not recognizable.
** (8374) Sarpedon waits for divine intervention. **
(8370) Imhotep: "What stars are these?"
(8374) Sarpedon: "This usually works."
** (8374) Sarpedon glances upward. "None that I know, and I have traveled many hundreds of leagues." **
** (8370) Imhotep yells in Egyptian, "Is there a priest here who may tell us what Hapi plans for Achet?" **
(8372) Demiurge: One man, speaking a strange tongue you later discover is called "english" is starting to walk around shouting with his hands in the air. You both know a preacher when you see one.
(8372) Demiurge: Another man walks up, and speaks greek to you. "Hello. Are you speaking... old greek?" The term "old greek" is odd, and the guy sounds like he's studied tha language but never spoken it. Rotten accent.
(8370) Imhotep: "I can speak Greek, yes."
(8372) Demiurge: "Amazing, you are greeks then?"
** (8374) Sarpedon spits. "Lycean. I'm no longer one of their accursed breed." **
(8374) Sarpedon: "Cattle of Athena, murderous wretches, bloodthirsty whoresons."
** (8370) Imhotep swells up his chest. "I am Imhotep, Chief Architect of Djosser, Blessed of Ra, Blessed of Amun, Son of Egypt." **
(8372) Demiurge: "Remarkable. I am not sure, but people seem to be reborn here from all over history. I died in 1983 AD. I know that means nothing to you, but I believe it was thousands of years after your deaths."
(8372) Demiurge: "My name is Martin Bixby, by the way."
(8374) Sarpedon: "That date means nothing to me."
(8370) Imhotep: "To me, it is a mystery as well."
(8374) Sarpedon: "Mar-tin. Bix-bee. I am Sarpedon, king of the Lyceans, defender of Ilium, and son of Zeus."
(8372) Martin Bixby: "Your friend seems to be from an even earlier time" He indicates Kazz. "He was obviously born tens of thousands of years before any of us. Neanderthal man, I believe."
(8370) Imhotep: "What manner of man?"
(8372) Martin Bixby: "It's hard to describe. Pre-humans, I guess you could say."
** (8370) Imhotep scratches his bald head, then decides it's not worth asking. **
(8370) Imhotep: "Do you know what is the meaning of these scrollcases and tables?"
(8374) Sarpedon: "He appears to be a lackey of Hephaestus, artificer of the gods. One of his forge-servants."
(8372) Martin Bixby: "No, I was wondering that myself. That one seems to be left there as a demonstration. I say we leave it and see what it does."
(8374) Sarpedon: "Squat, strong, good with hammer and tongs."
(8374) Sarpedon: "Nothing. I tried. Zeus did not hear me in this place. We are lost for the moment."
(8370) Imhotep: "Osiris tests us."
(8372) Martin Bixby: A woman comes up and starts trying to talk to Gwenefa. They can't understand each other. But she still seems to want to talk to the frightened child. Scared children bring out the best in people sometimes.
(8372) Martin Bixby: The woman would be startlingly beautiful if she had hair.
** (8374) Sarpedon gladly hands the child off to the woman. "Woman's work." **
Server Administrator-> Ping Results: 9.9 ms (parsed message, round trip)
(8372) Martin Bixby: "I was a professor. A teacher in my time. I studied and taught history. If you let me join your group, my knowledge will be useful."
** (8370) Imhotep looks to see if he recognizes any of his wives, children, or servants. **
(8372) Demiurge: Sadly, no. Some couples were reborn together, but that's not a rule by any means.
(8370) Imhotep: "Come with us, then. We must find or make some tools, to build shelter."
(8372) Demiurge: "Most of the people here seem to be british from the late 19th, early 20th century. The others are egyptians or random. I seem to be random."
(8374) Sarpedon: "Or weapons."
(8374) Sarpedon: "Are these dates? Centos, meaning hundred years?"
(8374) Sarpedon: "And how do you know our language?"
(8372) Martin Bixby: "I studied ancient languages. This is the first time I have actually spoken it to someone."
(8370) Imhotep: "Ancient languages?"
(8372) Martin Bixby: "I don't speak ancient egyptian, I am sorry."
(8370) Imhotep: "Greek and Egyptian are hardly ancient.
(8372) Martin Bixby: "I speak greek, and some latin."
(8370) Imhotep: "Those who dwell in the sands sometimes speak different tongues, but I do not know them."
(8372) Martin Bixby: "Well, remember by my time they were no longer spoken. Languages change over time, and I am from thousands of years after you."
(8374) Sarpedon: "Latin?"
** (8370) Imhotep thinks Martin Bixby is possibly insane. **
** (8374) Sarpedon laughs. "Folly. You are no older than we are." **
(8372) Martin Bixby: "The language of Rome."
(8370) Imhotep: "I have never heard of such a language as Rome."
(8372) Martin Bixby: "Perhaps once we get settled I can begin teaching a common language to people. I am a teacher after all. Probably english would be good, since it's the most common here."
(8374) Sarpedon: "Rome? If you mean those ignorant herdsmen to the west of Greece, then you surely make a mistake. The only civilization west of Athens is Carthage, across the sea."
(8372) Martin Bixby: "Ah, but later, Rome became a mighty empire! But that was after your time."
(8372) Martin Bixby: The sun is rising. It has risen over the tops of the mountain range. It is now full daylight,.
(8374) Sarpedon: "Rome. Hah! It sounds like a tale that would amuse young Aneas."
(8374) Sarpedon: "Morn. Let us use the day to find something of material use."
(8370) Imhotep: "Are there stones in the river?"
(8374) Sarpedon: "Bronze, ash trees, something like that. Even cloth would suffice."
(8372) Demiurge: The nearby area seems to be plains. The river doesn't seem to have stones. There are trees in the distance, away from the bank.
(8370) Imhotep: "Perhaps near the trees."
** (8372) Martin Bixby seems to be musing. "Perhaps I can teach Esperanto. It's easy to learn, and would put everyone on equal ground." **
(8370) Imhotep: (Ugh!)
(8370) Imhotep: (Heh!)
(8372) Demiurge: So you go emplore?
(8372) Demiurge: explore?
(8370) Imhotep: (Yep. Must find some kind of tools.)
(8372) Demiurge: Well, the map up there is one-third a mile per hex.
(8374) Sarpedon: "This is surely a strange realm. I did not think the underworld would be like this."
** (8370) Imhotep looks in the trees for stones, or something tough enough to possibly hack down a tree. **
(8372) Demiurge: You walk toward the mountains. Eventually the plains give way to tall thick grass. It could be wound or bound for something useful. After the grass is trees. Mostly oak and pine. And lots and lots of bamboo of different shapes and sizes.
** (8374) Sarpedon looks for decent saplings with straight trunks (spear shafts), any metals, anything of seeming value. **
(8372) Demiurge: There area also some massive trees of a type you have never seen. The leaves are wide and broad and tough looking. They look like they could make good roofing for a hut.
(8374) Sarpedon: "Javelin shafts, if they're strong enough." He breaks off a few likely bamboo poles.
(8370) Imhotep: "We can construct shelter, at least."
** (8370) Imhotep calls some of the Egyptians over. **
(8374) Sarpedon: "Out of what? There are no stones to quarry."
(8372) Demiurge: The bamboo is tough. It seems like the world was created with wood and bamboo that is ideal for building purposes.
** (8370) Imhotep begins explaining to the Egyptians how to make shelters from bamboo and leaves, using grass to tie it. **
(8372) Demiurge: As you approach the mountains, you find flint, chert and basalt.
(8370) Imhotep: "This is a start, at least."
(8372) Demiurge: It occurs to you that if someone dies, you could probably find a use for their skin. But you don't know if people can die twice.
** (8370) Imhotep picks up several pieces of flint and basalt. **
(8372) Demiurge: Metal seems to be non-existant.
(8374) Sarpedon: "Stone heads for spears. What I would not trade for a good bronze blade."
(8372) Demiurge: Except for your canisters. They are a metal that you do not recognize.
** (8374) Sarpedon collects a large chunk of flint to go with his bamboo poles. **
** (8370) Imhotep begins sharpening a piece of flint on a piece of basalt. **
(8372) Demiurge: You know that you can use fire to harden the spear tips.
(8374) Sarpedon: "Bah, let us keep moving. We can shape the stones at tonight's fire. Any idea what we will eat?"
(8372) Demiurge: You are getting hungry.
** (8370) Imhotep looks up in the trees, looking for fruit. **
(8372) Demiurge: No fruit, sorry. You return to the riverbank with your finds. The sun is about high noon now.
(8372) Demiurge: As the run reaches it zenith, there is a loud explosion that nearly knocks you off your feet.
(8370) Imhotep: "What was that?"
(8372) Demiurge: Basically what happened was this. The mushroom structures shot blue flame into the air in a huge loud explosion. The fire shot 20 feet high. One would have been loud enough, but every stone along the river seems to have fired off at once.
(8372) Demiurge: You see the lone canister where it was left. It appears to be undamaged.
(8370) Imhotep: "Ra's flame sprouted from the tables."
(8372) Demiurge: People are running around screaming again. I won't require another fright check, though, since I am nice. ;)
(8372) Demiurge: You notice that there were some fires shooting off from those little islands out in the river.
(8370) Imhotep: "Calm yourselves! Ra's voice is not to be ignored, but you must not show so much fear!"
** (8372) Martin Bixby seems to be frightened, but is calming himself. **
(8372) Martin Bixby: "What do you think it signified?"
(8370) Imhotep: "It is Ra, telling us to hurry our efforts."
(8374) Sarpedon: "Fires of Hades."
(8372) Martin Bixby: Imhotep, you mention that it's Ra's voice, but a memory reminds you that this place is supposedly built by the hands of man.
(8372) Demiurge: (Sorry, that wasn't Martin talking.)
(8374) Sarpedon: (Question: Did Sarpedon hear that information?)
(8370) Imhotep: "Djosser's tomb was built by the hands of man, yet the gods speak there."
(8372) Demiurge: (No.)
(8374) Sarpedon: (Noted. Thank you.)
(8372) Demiurge: (Imhotep, maybe man has used dark magics of some kind to divert humanity from the natural path of the afterlife.)
(8370) Imhotep: (Imhotep is a Fanatical believer in the Egyptian Mythos. He sees signs and omens everywhere.)
(8372) Demiurge: (The lone canister is still sitting there on the table. No one wants to go near it.)
(8370) Imhotep: "Perhaps it is an ill omen. Perhaps Set is using his dark power."
** (8370) Imhotep yells in Egyptian, "Are there no priests to read the signs?" **
(8372) Demiurge: A man says, "I was training to be a priest. But this is nothing like I was taught. The signs are all mysteries!"
(8374) Sarpedon: "Then again, perhaps it was just Cerberus farting."
** (8372) Martin Bixby laughs at that comment. **
** (8370) Imhotep frowns his disapproval at the would-be priest. **
** (8372) Gwenefra is climbing on top of the table. **
(8374) Sarpedon: "Give me a spear, a shield, and solid footing, and I will face this challenge."
(8370) Imhotep: "What is the child doing?"
** (8372) Gwenefra seems to be going for the canister. **
(8374) Sarpedon: "But naked and surrounded by ... well, foolish peasants, we are doomed."
** (8372) Gwenefra lifts up the canister and opens it. As she does, the smell of fresh cooked meat and vegatable wafts toward you. **
** (8374) Sarpedon turns to look. "She has something there." **
(8370) Imhotep: "Hapi has blessed us?"
(8372) Demiurge: A muscular egyptian jumps on the table. He shouts, "Give me that! I am hungry!" He slaps Gwenefra hard and takes the canister from her.
(8374) Sarpedon: "I was going to say that we appear to be the only practical ones here, but the child made that thought foolish. She's outthought us all."
** (8370) Imhotep addresses the muscular Egyptian. "You are a fool, to take a god's gift from a child." **
** (8374) Sarpedon kicks the Egyptian's legs out from under him. **
(8372) Demiurge: (He is standing on the platform. His feet are about waist high.)
(8374) Sarpedon: Rephrase that. Punch him in the Joy Department.
(8372) Demiurge: With your fist? Or with bamboo? Or what? :)
(8372) Demiurge: Make a brawling roll.
(8370) Imhotep: (Heh!)
(8374) Sarpedon: Let's go with the bamboo pole.
(8372) Demiurge: Ah, still brawling, I'd say. Simple barroom weapon.
(8372) Demiurge: Roll 3d6, less than or equal to your brawling skill.
Server Administrator-> Ping Results: 9.9 ms (parsed message, round trip)
(8374) Sarpedon: [3d6] -> [2,4,5] = (11) Brawling 13
(8374) Sarpedon: (Take that.)
(8372) Demiurge: Well, instead of a full out combat, since it's late and I am new to the system, we will just say that you take this clown down, easily.
(8372) Demiurge: In fact, if you want to find out whether people can die on this world, you can. :p
(8374) Sarpedon: "The Fates favored the child. Take yourself from this place and find food elsewhere. Touch her again and you won't be able to eat."
(8372) Demiurge: (He is big, from heavy labor, but not an experienced fighter.)
(8374) Sarpedon: "You won't need to eat."
(8372) Demiurge: He staggers away.
(8370) Imhotep: "Horus was with you, Sarpedon."
(8372) Demiurge: In the canister is beef, in a four inch cube. various vegatables. a cup of wine. and a packet of small tubes. They seem to be a dried plant wrapped in paper. There are ten of them. They are next to a small device.
(8374) Sarpedon: "Gwenefra, come child. Eat your supper. You've bested us all with your discovery. What are rocks and sticks compared to a good meal, eh?"
(8372) Gwenefra: Gwenefra doesn't understand, but you seem friendly, and she eats gladly.
** (8370) Imhotep leaves his canister on the mushroom thing, hoping for a replay. **
** (8374) Sarpedon pats her on the head again. **
** (8374) Sarpedon does the same after scratching his name on it with some flint. **
(8372) Gwenefra: The canister's metal seems to be very very tough. The flint breaks before it does. So you can't carve into it.
(8370) Imhotep: "All of you, put your scrollcases on the table. Perhaps Hapi will grace us with a miracle again."
(8374) Sarpedon: "Metal from Hephaestus' forge. If I had had a breastplate of this, Patroclus would have died by my hand, even if Apollo had stood in the way."
(8372) Demiurge: The hours pass. Bixby starts teaching people basic english. The classes are mostly egyptians, plus Gwenefra, the woman Loghu who befrieded her earlier.
(8374) Sarpedon: (What about Kazz?)
(8372) Demiurge: Anyone who wants to learn english can sit in. There doesn't seem to be much else to do while you wait. Kazz learns too. :)
** (8370) Imhotep listens to the English lessons. **
(8372) Demiurge: He starts with basic words. One clever person comes up with the world "grail" to describe the canisters. You don't know the reference but the name catches on.
(8374) Sarpedon: "Ay Bee Cee Dee Eee Eff Gee. This is a language for cattle."
(8372) Demiurge: Naturally the structure becomes a "grailstone"
(8370) Imhotep: (Ha!)
(8372) Demiurge: Well, he is mostly teaching preactical spoken english.
(8372) Demiurge: You don't learn the written form, since there are no books to read, apparently.
(8374) Sarpedon: "Why would I want to squeeze 'Charmin?'"
(8372) Demiurge: You discover something. No one can open your grail but you. Anyone can open the "sample" grail.
(8370) Imhotep: "Clever."
** (8370) Imhotep spends a lot of time trying to figure out the grail. **
(8374) Sarpedon: "Teach me words like, 'Kill the whoreson Greeks and burn their ships in the name of Zeus."
(8372) Demiurge: As the sun goes behind the mountains, you all place your grails on the grailstones. A short time later, the stones fire off and you all get dinner. :)
(8374) Sarpedon: "At least we get beef."
(8370) Imhotep: "Again, Hapi has blessed us."
(8372) Demiurge: The little paper tubes of plants are there. The english call them cigarettes.
(8372) Demiurge: There is a little device in each grail that makes fire.
(8372) Demiurge: It's very hot, and can be used to harden your stone weapons.
(8374) Sarpedon: "What are these things? Herbs?"
(8370) Imhotep: "They do not taste pleasant."
(8372) Demiurge: The ten-packs are tobacco. But with them, you get another, different tasting one. They call it "marijuana"
** (8374) Sarpedon makes use of the fire device to harden the tips of his bamboo spears. "Let that savage slap the child again. He'll feel more than a sore groin." **
(8372) Demiurge: Every meal is different. Usually people get meals from their own home time and place.
(8372) Demiurge: People are making trades of favorite foods.
** (8370) Imhotep darkens sticks of bamboo, and colors around his eyes. **
(8372) Demiurge: Many people get lipstick and make-up kits.
(8372) Demiurge: Also, you get soap and toilet paper.
(8372) Demiurge: There is a small cube of something that everyone gets for dinner. Martin examines it and exclaims, "Chewing gum!" and pops it in his mouth. Not bad. An odd taste. I recommend it.
** (8374) Sarpedon sniffs the soap and discards it. "Woman's trifles." **
(8370) Imhotep: "Is it meat or plant?"
** (8374) Sarpedon makes a loincloth from the toilet paper. **
(8370) Imhotep: (HAHAHA!)
(8372) Demiurge: "You know, I'm not sure. It's probably closer to plant. It's mostly a snack. A flavor treat for after a meal."
(8374) Sarpedon: brb
(8372) Demiurge: (You fail. There isn't that much paper,and it falls apart.)
(8372) Demiurge: (One hopeful thing is that many grails provide combs and scissors. So your hair will probably grow back.)
(8370) Imhotep: (Which is silly, because Imhotep will probably shave it off again.)
(8372) Demiurge: (We can finish for the night soon. We just finished Day 1 A.R. *after resurrection*)
(8372) Demiurge: (Good luck shaving with flint razors.)
(8372) Demiurge: (So do you guys try the gum?)
** (8370) Imhotep tries the gum. **
(8372) Demiurge: It has an odd taste. Not bad, though.
(8372) Demiurge: After a few minutes of chewing, you notice a blade of grass.
** (8370) Imhotep chews for a minute, then swallows it. **
(8370) Imhotep: (Imhotep has no concept of chewing gum...)
(8372) Demiurge: There is nothing odd about the grass, but you... notice it. Every detail. The world become crystal clear. It seems like you can feel every particle of air blowing against yout.
(8372) Demiurge: All of a sudden you are assualted by vivid memories mixed with images of hopes and dreams.
(8372) Demiurge: You can act like you want to, but for the next couple of hours, every inhibition you ever had has vanished. You notice that people are running around screaming, fighting, copulating madly on the ground.
** (8372) Gwenefra is running around in circles, laughing and screaming in turns. **
** (8372) Loghu stalks the group, looking from man to man like a hungry animal. **
** (8370) Imhotep gives in to his creative urge, and begins madly constructing a shelter from bamboo and leaves, using a sharpened piece of flint to cut with. **
(8370) Imhotep: (Imhotep is an engineer to the core...)
(8372) Demiurge: You create something, but have trouble maintaining the focus for an extended project.
** (8372) Loghu tried climbing you and licking your ear, before stalking off to find someone more willing. **
** (8374) Sarpedon leaps atop one of the mushroom tables with his spears, swinging them madly and exultantly at imaginary Greek enemies. **
(8374) Sarpedon: He screams invectives in Greek, Minoan, and Lycean, calling Patroclus every nasty name (completely incoherently) under the sun.
** (8372) Loghu found you and starts swinging one of the spears, too. laughing madly. In your daze, she seems to be your most trusted lieutenant from your past life.) **
(8374) Sarpedon: (It's just a stream of gibberish punctuated by spear thrusts and the name Patroclus.)
(8372) Loghu: (Then your "trusted lieutentant" sits and starts using the spear shaft in a manner the gods probably never intended.)
** (8374) Sarpedon gathers his newfound army (Loghu) and prepares to march on the Greeks down on the seashore (river side). **
** (8374) Sarpedon ignores his insubordinate liutenant and heads for the shore. **
(8372) Demiurge: After a couple of hours, you all calm down.
** (8374) Sarpedon gets his spare spear back. **
(8372) Demiurge: (You discover that only the people who chewed the gum had these odd affects.)
(8374) Sarpedon: Luckily, he has toilet paper.
(8372) Demiurge: (Yeah, that didn't last)
(8370) Imhotep: "Chewing gum does that, then?"
(8372) Martin Bixby: "Not the type I am used to"
(8374) Sarpedon: "That was the song of the Bachhante. Look at what occurred. Can there be another explanation?"
(8372) Demiurge: The couple you saw earlier? The married couple who was so happy to see each other? Well, after chewing the gum, the husband beat his wife to death, chucked her in the river, grabbed a woman and ran off with her.
(8370) Imhotep: "Loyalty is cheap here."
(8372) Demiurge: You see the body floating in the river. A very large fish-creature swims by and swallows it.
(8370) Imhotep: "Also, there are large fish."
(8372) Demiurge: People were swimming earlier with no apparent danger. The fish seems to be a carrion eater.
(8372) Demiurge: Anyway, you create some simple structures, and bed down for the night. Loghu seems to be following Sarpeton. She seems to want to attach herself to a strong man. Women are like that. :)
(8374) Sarpedon: "It did not harm swimmers. Good. We may need to get to the other shore."
** (8374) Sarpedon rolls his eyes. **
(8372) Demiurge: That night, about the middle of the night, it rains for about an hour, starting and stopping suddenly.
(8370) Imhotep: "Strange. Very strange."
(8374) Sarpedon: He has no need for that sort of company until this challenge has been conquered.
(8372) Demiurge: That concludes Day One, Year One, After Resurrection (A.R.)
** (8372) Loghu Loghu slinks off. She doesn't seem used to being rejected by men. **
** (8374) Sarpedon gives her a spear. "Go learn to use this. Come back when you do." **
** (8372) Demiurge can be described as w1ck3d h4wt. :) **
(8372) Loghu: (That's another thing. Martin is teaching english. Maybe you can teach people weapons.)
(8374) Sarpedon: (Survival first, understanding second, sex third.)
** (8372) Kazz is very useful in building things. He is even better than Imhotep at making primitive weapons. **
** (8374) Sarpedon learns all he can from Kazz. **
(8370) Imhotep: (Yeah, but can he build a mastaba?)
(8370) Imhotep: (Heh!)
(8374) Sarpedon: (Or a bronze falcata?)
(8372) Kazz: Imhotep has building skills at TL0. Imhotep takes a penalty for doing stuff from a different tech level. :)
(8372) Kazz: Sorry. I meant Kazz has skills at TL0
(8372) Kazz: Imhotep is TL1
(8372) Demiurge: Anyway, we can continue next week.
(8372) Demiurge: That was the first day in your new world.